Voting-machine.



PATENTED OOT. 1'7, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l M 3:. T l ibu A. A. FARWBLL.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLiGATION FILED DEG, 9,1903.

PATENTED OCT. 17, 1905.

A. A. FARWELL. VOTING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED DEG.9,1903.

2 BHEBTS-SHEET 2.

s Q 5 m PM W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VOTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 1 7, 1905.

Application filed December 9, 1903. Serial No. 184,444.

T0 to whom. it ncty concern.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED A. FARWELL, physician, of the town of Oshawa, county of Ontario, Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Voting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to devise a reliable voting-machine by means of which the voter, first, may register a straight party vote by operating a single push-bar or may vote for individual candidates, means being provided for locking the push-bars for individual candidates when the voter elects to give a straight party vote, and vice versa; second, may vote for a plurality of nominees for a particular oflice, and, third, may change his choice of such plurality of nominees as often as he pleases before leaving the booth.

I further aim to improve the details of the push-bar mechanism and to provide reliable means whereby the operation of a turnstile will effect the registration of the votes according to the push-bars which havebeen pressed home and will return all the parts to the nor mal position.

I attain these objects by means of the constructions hereinafter described and then definitely claimed.

Figure l is a perspective view of my improved voting-machine, the two tiers of pushbars being shown separated to better display the mechanism. Fig. 2 is a perspective detail showing the means employed for registration of a vote for a person who has not been officially nominated. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the upper tier of the machine. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the lower tier of the machine. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of the push-bars and its registering mechanism. Fig. 6 is a plan view, enlarged, of a part of one of the push-bars in Fig. 4.

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, A is the frame of the machine, suitably constructed to support the difi'erent parts. On this frame are supported a series of push-bars B and on a lower tier a series of push-bars C. It will be seen that these push-bars are supported on suitable cross-bars of the frame of the machine and are'held in place by means of pins or screws (0 working through slots in the push-bars, the length of the slots limiting the longitudinal motion of the push-bars. In the machine illustrated the push-bars B are intended for use when the voter desires to record a straight party vote. The push-bars of the lower tier are for use when the voter desires to vote for one or more individual candidates. In connection with the pushbars B, I illustrate a push-bar D, which may be used, as hereinafter described, for the purpose of recording votes for persons not officially nominated. If a person records astraight party vote, itis necessary that the push-bars for recording individual votes shall be locked to prevent the voter from also recording votes for individuals, and vice versa. I therefore provide a sliding bar E for each series of push-bars. These sliding bars, it will be seen, are carried in suitable guides Z), formed on the frame of the machine. Each sliding bar carries a series of pins 0, one for each push-bar and adapted to enter notches formed in said bars. F is a vertical shaft suitably journaled in any convenient part and provided witha laterallyextending arm G, which lies between two pins (Z, connected to a push-bar H. This push-bar is carried in a manner exactly similar to the push-bars D and E. Extending from the rear side of the shaft F is an arm I, which lies between two pins 6, secured to the upper sliding bar E. On the front of the shaft is a similar arm J, lying between two pins (1 on the lower sliding bar E. From this construction it is evident that when the pushbar H is in the position shown the pins 1 are free from the notches in the push-bars B, while the pins on the lower sliding bar E are engaged with the notches in the push-bars C. If the push-bar H be pressed home, the upper push-bars B will be locked and the lower push-bars released. The normal condition is with the upper push-bars free, so that without any preliminary setting the voter is enabled to record astraight party vote. Itwill be noticed that each of the push-bars B, D, and H is provided with a series of ratchetteeth, which are engaged by mining-actuated pawls K, pivoted on the frame of the machine. Thus when any one of these pushbars is pressed home it is caught and held by the pawl until released, as hereinafter described. This prevents a voter after moving the push-bar H to enablehim to record votes for individuals from afterward withdrawing the push-bar H and recording a straight party vote. It-also prevents him from recording home the bar R prevents the other push-bars more than one vote for one party and from l operating the push-bar D more than once, so as to vote for more than one unnominated candidate. As it is the intention that only oneof the push-bars B shall be capable of being pressed in at the one time, I provide these push-bars with a divided bar R, such as shown in my prior United States patent, No. 67 0,633. This bar is divided in sections, having inclined ends forming V-shaped notches under each of the push-bars B. The divided bar R is carried by a suitable guide 3' and lies between fixed stops In, which are spaced so as to permit the sections of the bar to be spread apart suflieiently to allow of the passage of the pointed projection Z of one of the push-bars and no more. A spring m is provided, hearing against the end of the bar and one of the stops iv, which tends to maintain the parts of the divided bar in their normal position. Thus after one of the push-barsB has been pressed being pressed in by preventing the passage of the projections Z.

I will now describe the registering mechanism in connection with one of the push-bars B. It will be seen, particularly on reference to Fig. 5,that each push-bar B is vertically forked by having an L-shaped piece L secured thereto. The end of this L-shaped piece is slotted to embrace the lever M, pivoted in the bracket f. secured to the rear part of the frame of the machine. To the upper end of this lever is pivoted a pawl N, having a triple head 9, shaped to engage the three ratchet-wheels 7i, secured to the registering-disks O, journaled on a suitable spindle carried by the bracket f. Each ratchet-wheel h is provided with a spring-actuated dog 2", adapted to hold it as moved by the triple-headed pawl N. It will be seen then that if one of the push-bars B be pushed home the piece L will move the lever M, thus drawing back the triple-headed pawl N the space of one tooth of the units ratchet-wheel 71 The details of the registering device are well known in the art, and I do not, therefore, claim them nor describe them in full.

Suitably journaled on the frame of the machine is the vertical shaft P, intended to form the shaft of a turnstile through which the voter must pass on leaving the booth. As such is an ordinary arrangement, I do not specilically illustrate it. This shaft carries a disk Q, having on its face the cam projections s. In the path of these projections lies one end of the lever T, centrally pivoted on the frame of the machine. Its other end is connected by a link or otherwise with a slide U, suitably guided onthe frame of the machine and provided with pins 6, adapted to engage the pawls K to release them from engagement with the push-bars. The disk Q also carries the pins or cam projections 91.. In the path of these pins lies the end of a bent lever R, its other end being pivoted at 0 on the frame of the machine. This lever is connected by a link p with an arm (1, extending up from the horizontal shaft S, journaled on the frame of the machine. A series of arms a extend up from this shaft through slots cut in the push-bars. Normally these arms are at the rear ends of these slots. When, however, a push-bar has been pressed home, the forward end of its slot is brought close to one of the arms 1'.

It will be noticed that a shaft S, with its arms 9* and the operating connections with the vertical shaft I, is provided for each tier of the apparatus, and also a slide U with its connections. Thus when the shaft I is rotated when a voter leaves the booth the slide-bars U are operated to release the pawls K. Immediately after one of the pins a on each disk Q operates thebent levers R, causing the shaft S, with its arms 1', to return all the push-bars to their normal position. This causes the piece L of any push-bar which has been pressed home to draw forward the lower end of the lever M, with which it is engaged, causing it to move the pawl N to rotate the units-disk O of the register. As the push-bar H, supposing it to have been pushed home, is also operated by the rocking of the shaft S, the sliding bars E will be operated to release the push-bars B and lock the push-bars U and D.

It will be noted that the levers It and T are provided with suitable springs tending to maintain them in their normal position, though the weight of the connected parts really makes this unnecessary in the case of the levers R and also if the cams a be made double-acting in the case of the levers T.

It will be understood, of course, that although I have described the push-bars B as being intended to register a straight party vote, yet the apparatus, as shown, might read ily be employed in a case where it was desired to elect only a mayor and aldermen or eouncilmen. In this case as a voter would expect to use both tiers of push-bars the looking mechanism for locking one set while the other is open would be dispensed with. The lower tier is arranged so that the voter may vote for two or more out of the total number of nominees. The push-bars and the registering mechanisms are the same as already described with the additions which I now set forth.

Each push-bar has formed thereon a series of projections V. A series of projections A are also connected to a cross-bar of the frame adjacent to the projections V. These projections are preferably formed as journaled sheaves. A chain it passes around these sheaves in front of the stationary sheaves and behind the movable sheaves, and its ends are secured to suitable stationary parts. Sufficient slack is allowed in this chain to permit of the desired number of push-bars being pressed home. hen all the slack is thus to the bent lever B.

taken up, it becomes impossible to press in any more of the push-bars.

As it is desired that the voter may change his mind as to the selection he makes after having pushed in various push-bars, I omit the pawls K and substitute therefor the rockbar B and the pawls O. The rock-bar B normally rests with its rear edge in position to engage the tails of the pawls N as they are thrown forward by the pressing in of the push-bars. The heads of the pawls are thus lifted from engagement with the ratchetwheels it, and hence no record is made no matter how frequently a push-bar be pressed home and withdrawn. The rock-bar has an arm a secured thereto, connected by a link w Thus when the shaft P is rotated as a voter leaves the booth the rock-bar B is first lifted and the pawls are then allowed to effect the registration of the votes as the push-bars are automatically returned to their normal position. Owing to the lower ends of the levers M lying in slots in the parts L, the push-bars are free to move a little before the registering begins. This gives time for the lifting of the rock-bar. (See Fig. 5.) The pawls C are spring-actuated and engage ratchet-notches a in the sides of the pushbars (1. They thus hold the push-bar in after it has been pressed home,'

so that an attempt to force in another pushbar will not push outwardly those which have already been operated. But as it is desired, as already stated, that the voter shall be enabled to pull out any push-bar which he has pushed home I therefore form each push-bar in two parts, the front part D being made slidable upon the lower part to a limited extent by means of a pin 6, secured to one part and extending through a short slot in the other part. The front guide-pins a of the push-bars extend through long slots in both parts, as shown in the drawings. A flat V-shaped notch j is formed in the side of each part D. (See Fig. 6.)

As the pawl is wide enough to engage the sides of both parts of the push-bar, the pawl cannot engage the ratchet-notch A unless the V-notch in the part D is in alinement therewith. This occurs when the push-bar has been pressed home. If now the push-bar is drawn out, the first motion moves only the front part D, raising the pawl out of the ratchet-notch a. The parts then move as a whole, and the push-bar can be drawn out to its normal position.

It will be noted particularly on reference to Figs. 4c and 5 that the rear end of the front part D of each push-bar C comes very close to the slots through which work the arms 9' of the horizontal shaft S, and thus will overlap the slots when pushed in. Hence as this shaft is rocked through the operation of the vertical shaft P the arms r engage the rear ends of the parts D, and thus move them to their normal position, disengaging the pawls C. The continued motion of the arms r then returns the push-bars to their normal position.

I show the push-bar D operating in connection with the push-bar (I, though of course it may be employed in any other part of the apparatus, in which case the sheave on its under side would be unnecessary. This push-bar is supported in the same manner as the other push-bars and is also arranged to be returned to its normal position by the action of the shaft S and its arms 9*. Its rear end is provided with one of the pawls K, as after it has been used by the voter it is imperative that he be not in a position to use it again.

Connected to the push-bar is a bracket 0, carrying a pin engaging a diagonal slot (Z, formed in the arm E, pivoted at e on the frame of the machine. (See Figs. 4 and The front end of this arm carries a guard F, normally closing an opening in the front casing of the machine. Behind this guard passes a ribbon or paper Gr,wound on the spoolsf g, journaled on the frame of the machine. The upper spool. may be provided with any suitable mechanism to prevent its too rapid rotation. Such devices being common need not be specifically described. The lower spool has a ratchet-wheel H fast on its spindle. With this ratchet-wheel is engaged a pawl I, pivoted on the push-bar D. I also provide a spring retaining-pawl 2:, also engaging the ratchet-wheel. From this construction it follows that as the push-bar is pressed home the guard F is raised, and the voter may inscribe the name of his candidate on the ribbon of paper, a tablet it lying behind the ribbon at this point to give the desired support. WVhen the push-bar is released and returned to its normal position by the operation of the vertical shaft P, the pawl 1 moves the ratchetwheel H and shifts the paper ribbon for the next voter who may desire to use it.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I show a modification of the means for locking one series of push-bars and simultaneously releasing the other series. The sliding bars E instead of directly engaging the sides of the push-bars are provided with pins 71:, which are adapted to engage spring-actuated pawls J pivoted on the frame of the machine. The sides of the push-bars are provided with notches with which the said pawls may engage. The sliding bars are operated in precisely the same manner as in Fig. 1, and the upper series of push-bars are normally free and the lower locked, as shown.

I prefer the construction just described, as the use of the pawls makes it impossible for the sticking of one push-bar to prevent the locking of all the rest.

In Fig. 3 I show additional means for returning the sliding bars E to their normal position. A pin Z on the end of the upper sliding bar E engages a 'slot in one end of a bent lever K, the other end of wlnch hes 1n the path of wipers L on the shaft 1. hen this shaft is rotated to return the parts to their normal position, one of these wipers engages the lever K, and thus aids the push-bar II in returning the bars to their normal position, the push-bar H being operated, as hereinbefore described, through the medium of one of the arms r of the horizontal shaft S.

In Fig. 4 I show the chain a working in conjunction with auxiliary means for preventing more than the predetermined number of push-bars C being pressed in. Moving in suitable guides on the frame is a sliding bar M, held in its normal position by means of a tension-spring at. One end of the chain a passes around a sheaf n and is attached to the bar M, so that tension on the chain tends to draw the bar against the tension of the spring m. The bar M is provided with a series of pins 0, which are normally engaged with the spring-actuated pawls N to withdraw them from contact with the sides of the push-bars C. Notches p are formed in the sides of these push-bars immediately under the heads of the pawls N. From this construction it follows that after all the slack has been taken up in the chain by the pressing in of a predetermined number of push-bars an attempt to force in an additional push-bar brings a tension on the chain which draws on the slidebar M and releases the pawls I, so that their heads engage the said notches, and thus effectually lock any of the push-bars which have not been pressed in. This efiectually relieves the strain on the chain if any voter attempts by main force to register more than the proper number of votes.

It Will be seen that in the second tier of the machine I have provided that a voter may have the privilege of altering his choice as often as he likes before leaving the booth. If it is not considered necessary to permit this, the rock-bar B and its connections may be omitted, also the sliding front parts I) of the pushbars, with the pawls C. Each push-bar would then be provided with one of the locking-pawls K and means for releasing the same, as shown in connection with the push-bars B and l).

I of course have shown my device in its simplest possible form and with the fewest possible number of push-bars. In actual practice it will be necessary in many cases to largely extend the push-bars in each series and also to largely increase the number of series employed. All these changes and extensions can, however, be made without adding to or departing from the invention described and claimed in this specification.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a voting-machine a series of push-bars; a second series of push-bars; and registering mechanisms controlled by said push-bars, in combination with spring actuated pawls adapted to engage notches formed in the pushbars; and means for simultaneously moving a l l l l l 1 l l i l i l l l l the pawls of either series to an inoperative position and releasing the pawls of the other series, substantially as described.

2. In a voting-machine a series of push-bars; a second series of push-bars; and registering mechanisms controlled by said push-bars, in combination with spring-actuated pawls pivoted on a stationary part and adapted to engage notches formed in the push-bars; a sliding bar for each series adapted to engage the pawls and hold them in an inoperative position; and means for simultaneously moving the said bars in reverse directions, substantially as described.

In a voting-machine a series of push-bars; a second series of push-bars; and registering mechanisms controlled by said push-bars, in combination with springactuated pawls pivoted on a stationary part and adapted to engage notches formed in the push-bars; a sliding bar for each series adapted to engage the pawls and hold them in an inoperative position; a vertical shaft; an arm thereon; a push bar adapted to rock said arm; an arm extending from one side of the shaft and having an operating connection with one of said sliding bars; and an arm extending from the other side of said shaft and having an operating connection with the other sliding bar, substantially as described.

I. In a voting-machine a suitably-guided push-bar; registering mechanism controlled by the said push-bar; and means directly engaging the push-bar for automatically locking the said push-bar when pressed in, in combination with a shaft; means operated bysaid shaft for unlocking the said push-bar; and means operated by the said shaft for returning the push-bar to its normal position, substantially as described.

5. In a voting-machine a suitably-guided push-bar, having a slotted rearward extension; a lever pivoted on the frame and having one end engaged by the said slotted extension; a pawl pivoted on the other end of the lever; a ratchet-wheel journaled on the frame and engaged by the said pawl; a suitable retaining-pawl engaging the said ratchet-wheel; a registering-disk carried by the said ratchetwheel, in combination with a shaft; and means operated by the said shaft for returning the push-bar to its normal position after it has been pressed home, substantially as described.

(3. In a voting-machine a suitably-guided push-bar, having a slotted rearward extension; a lever pivoted on the frame and having one end engaged by the said slotted extension; a pawl pivoted on the other end of the lever; an inclined tail on said pawl; a ratchet-wheel journaled on the frame and engaged by the said pawl; a suitable retaining-pawl engaging the said ratchet-wheel, in combination with a rock-bar normally lying in position to engage the inclined tail of the pawl; a shaft; means operated by the said shaft for raising the rock- I'lO bar; and means operated by the said shaft for returning the parts to a normal position, substantially as described.

7. In a voting-machine a suitably-guided push-bar; registering mechanism adapted to be operated by the said push-bar on its return to normal after having been pressed in; and means normally preventing such operation, in combination with a shaft; means operated by the said shaft for releasing said preventive means; and means operated by the said shaft for returning all parts to their normal position, substantially as described.

8. In a voting-machine a series of suitablyguided push-bars; means permitting only a predetermined number of" said push-bars to occupy the pushed-home position at the one time; registering mechanisms adapted to be operated by said push-bars on their return to normal; and means normally preventing such operation, in combination Witha shaft; means operated by the said shaft for releasing said preventive means; and means operated by said shaft for returning all parts to their normal positions, substantially as described.

9. In a voting-machine a series of suitablyguided push-bars; means permitting only a predetermined number of said push-bars to occupy the pushed-home position at the one time; registering mechanisms adapted to be operated by said push-bars on their return to normal; means for locking each push-bar When pressed in, in combination With a shaft; and means operated by said shaft for releasing the push-bars and returning them to nor- ALFRED A. FARWELL.

In presence of- J. EDW. MAYBEL, l. R. Jones. 

